Israeli forces raid, destroy property at al-Quds University

April 5, 2016 12:04 P.M. (Updated: April 5, 2016 4:41 P.M.)

JERUSALEM (Ma’an) – Israeli forces stormed the campus of al-Quds University in the occupied West Bank village of Abu Dis east of Jerusalem's Old City early on Tuesday morning, damaging property, local sources told Ma’an.

Israeli troops raided the university campus at 3 a.m. and left at 5 a.m. For two hours, the soldiers locked campus security guards in one room after breaking their walkie-talkies.

The soldiers then ransacked a building hosting the Dean of Students and destroyed property, including printers.

The sources added that Israeli forces damaged a Christmas tree that was standing in front of the Dean of Students office.

Israeli forces also stormed the Faculty of Islamic Studies, and broke into the students activity center, destroying material in an exhibition students were working on.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that as part of “operational activity,” Israeli forces seized material belonging to Hamas’ educational arm al-Kutla al-Islamiyah, including propaganda for Hamas.

The spokesperson added that such propaganda was used for “incitement,” and encouraged “terrorism against Israeli citizens and security forces.”

Both Palestinian and Israeli leadership have accused each other of inciting and encouraging the current wave of upheaval in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel that began in October.

Israeli forces have stormed university campuses across the occupied Palestinian territory several times since the beginning of 2016, with al-Quds University in particular finding itself a focal point of violent clashes between Palestinian students and Israeli soldiers.

Hundreds of Israeli soldiers stormed al-Quds University in January, confiscating equipment and documents belonging to its student union. Earlier that month, Israeli forces also confiscated and damaged equipment at Birzeit University in a predawn raid.

In March, Israeli forces raided the Tulkarem-area al-Khadoori University twice in 18 hours. The Arab American University in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin was also raided by Israeli forces in March.